Concealable desktop workspace

ABSTRACT

A concealing cover for a desktop workspace. The cover panel is supported above an interior working surface and is operable between an open position and a closed position. A translating mechanism couples the cover panel to a desktop and may be configured so that the operation of one cover panel will move a second cover panel in the same relative direction to open or close the cover panels to conceal or open the desktop workspace.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/264,175, filed Dec. 7, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to desktop workspaces and, more particularly, to desktop workspaces that may be covered for concealing or securing items carried on the desktop.

Traditional roll-top desks provide a desktop workspace that may be covered by a closure to conceal or secure the items carried on the desktop. The roll-top desks are cumbersome, tall, and heavy. Over time, their closing feature tends to get stuck with friction from moisture in the air or a lack of bearings.

With conventional desktop workspaces, there are times when the user would like to leave work materials on the desktop surface, but may not want others to view the work materials. However, the conventional desktops are only configured as a workspace, without the ability to conceal work items that may be left on the desktop surface.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved desktop workspace that may be readily covered to conceal work items on the desktop or provide security for the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a concealable desktop is claimed that includes: a substantially flat interior desktop surface; a cover panel, operable between an open position and a closed position; and a translating mechanism that is operatively coupled to the interior desktop surface and the cover panel such that the cover panel is supported as it is moved laterally between the open position and the closed position. In some embodiments, the translating mechanism includes a guide assembly that is interconnected with an aft end of the interior desktop and an aft end of the cover panel. In other embodiments, the translating mechanism also includes a roller attached to a forward end of the interior desktop surface, where the roller has an outer surface configured to support a bottom surface of cover panel. In preferred embodiments, the translating mechanism has a cable carried over a pulley such that operation of a first cover panel will move a second cover panel in the same relative direction. The concealable desktop will preferably have a left cover panel and a right cover panel. The concealable desktop may be supported by a plurality of legs extending from a bottom surface of the interior desktop surface.

In yet other embodiments, the concealable desktop may have an aft stop extending along a back edge of the interior desktop surface. Similarly, the interior desktop may include a lateral stop extending along a side edge of the interior desktop surface.

Other aspects of the invention include a desk having a substantially flat interior desktop surface carried on a support platform. A left and a right cover panel are operable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the interior desktop surface is covered in the closed position and uncovered in the open position. The desk includes a translating mechanism operatively coupled to the interior desktop surface such that the left cover panel and the right cover panel are supported as they are moved laterally between the open position and the closed position. The translating mechanism may include a guide assembly interconnected the interior desktop and the cover panel. The translating mechanism may also include a roller attached to a forward end of the interior desktop surface, the roller having an outer surface configured to support a bottom surface of the left and the right cover panels. In other preferred embodiments, a cable is carried over a pulley such that operation of a first cover panel will move a second cover panel in the same relative direction.

Yet other aspects of the invention include a desktop cover. The desktop cover includes a cover panel having a translating mechanism to operatively coupled the cover panel to a desktop surface such that the cover panel is supported above the desktop surface as it is moved laterally between the open position and the closed position. The translating mechanism may include a guide assembly configured to be interconnected between the desktop and the cover panel. The translating mechanism may also include a roller configured to support a forward end of the cover panel above a forward end of the desktop.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of an embodiment of a desk with a concealed desktop shown in a closed condition.

FIG. 2 is a bottom front perspective view of an embodiment of a desk with a concealed desktop shown in a closed condition.

FIG. 3 is a top front perspective view of the desk with concealable desktop in an open condition.

FIG. 4 is a bottom front perspective view of the desk with concealable desktop without the cover panels.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of a translating mechanism coupled to the desk.

FIG. 6 is an upper rear perspective view of a translating mechanism coupled to the desk.

FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view of a cover panel.

FIG. 8 is a detail view of a pulley.

FIG. 9 is a detail view of a guide assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an improved desk and concealable desktop workspace that permits the user to cover the desktop so as to conceal or secure work items carried on the workspace.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a representative embodiment of a desk 10 with a concealable desktop workspace 20 is shown in a closed condition. The desktop workspace 20 has a plurality of legs 12 extending in a supporting position from a bottom surface 26 of the desk 10. The legs 12 may be formed in in any suitable configuration, such as the wire form shown, turned wooden legs, or a substantially flat panel of material. Alternatively the desktop workspace 20 may be mounted to a wall surface by support brackets and the like.

As seen in reference to FIG. 3, the desktop workspace 20 includes a left and a right cover panel 30 that are laterally extendable to reveal an interior desktop surface 22. The interior desktop surface 22 provides a concealable workspace for the user to place work items as they operate at the desk. The interior desktop surface 22 may include an aft stop panel 24 to retain work items on the interior desktop surface 22 so that the work items, such as papers or work pieces do not fall off the back edge of the work surface 22.

As seen in reference to FIG. 4, the interior desktop surface 22 may also include lateral stop panels 28 to retain work items on the interior desktop surface 22. A support roller 29 is positioned adjacent to the respective left and right lateral stop panels 28. An outer surface of the support roller 29 extends above the top edge surfaces of the lateral stop panels 28 so as to support a bottom surface of the cover panels 30, so that a front end of the cover panels 30 may move freely as they are moved between the open and closed positions. Alternatively, the support roller 29 may be mounted to a bottom surface of the cover panels 30, such that the outer surface of the support roller 29 is carried on the interior desktop surface 22.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the desktop workspace 20 will include a translating mechanism to retain and support an aft end of the cover panels 30 with the desktop workspace 20. The translating mechanism includes a guide assembly 40 that may be attached to a back surface of the aft stop 24. The translating mechanism is preferably a rail and track assembly configured where one of the rail or the track are attached to the back surface of the aft stop 24 and the other of the rail or the track are attached to an interior surface of the cover panels 30. The translating mechanism may also include a cable 42 suspended over a pulley 44, which, in the embodiment shown, are attached to the back surface of the aft stop 24 proximal to the lateral stop panels 28. The cable 42 is routed such that operation of one of the cover panels 30 will move the other cover panel 30 in the same relative direction, open or closed. A representative pulley may be seen in reference to FIG. 8. The support roller 29 may also be considered to be a component of the translating mechanism.

As seen in reference to FIG. 7, the cover panel 30 may include lateral sidewalls 32 extending downwardly from the top cover panel surface. The forward sidewall 32 provides a closure of the front face of the concealed desktop 22 when the cover panels 30 are closed. They also serve to provide support for the cover panels 30 and to conceal the rollers 29 in an open condition. As shown the guide assembly 40 may be operatively attached to an interior surface of the aft sidewall 32. A representative guide assembly 40, and like hardware, is shown in detail in reference to FIG. 9.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A concealable desktop comprising: a substantially flat interior desktop surface; a cover panel, operable between an open position and a closed position; and a translating mechanism operatively coupled to the interior desktop surface and the cover panel such that the cover panel is supported as it is moved laterally between the open position and the closed position.
 2. The concealable desktop of claim 1, wherein the translating mechanism further comprises: a guide assembly interconnected with an aft end of the interior desktop and an aft end of the cover panel.
 3. The concealable desktop of claim 2, wherein the translating mechanism further comprises: a roller attached to a forward end of the interior desktop surface, the roller having an outer surface configured to support a bottom surface of cover panel.
 4. The concealable desktop of claim 3, wherein the translating mechanism further comprises: a cable carried over a pulley such that operation of a first cover panel will move a second cover panel in the same relative direction.
 5. The concealable desktop of claim 3, further comprising: a left cover panel and a right cover panel.
 6. The concealable desktop of claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of legs extending from a bottom surface of the interior desktop surface.
 7. The concealable desktop of claim 4, further comprising: an aft stop extending along a back edge of the interior desktop surface.
 8. The concealable desktop of claim 7, further comprising: a lateral stop extending along a side edge of the interior desktop surface.
 9. A desk comprising: a substantially flat interior desktop surface carried on a support platform; a left and a right cover panel operable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the interior desktop surface is covered in the closed position and uncovered in the open position; a translating mechanism operatively coupled to the interior desktop surface such that the left cover panel and the right cover panel are supported as they are moved laterally between the open position and the closed position.
 10. The desk of claim 9, wherein the translating mechanism further comprises: a guide assembly interconnected the interior desktop and the cover panel.
 11. The concealable desktop of claim 10, wherein the translating mechanism further comprises: a roller attached to a forward end of the interior desktop surface, the roller having an outer surface configured to support a bottom surface of the left and the right cover panels.
 12. The concealable desktop of claim 11, wherein the translating mechanism further comprises: a cable carried over a pulley such that operation of a first cover panel will move a second cover panel in the same relative direction.
 13. A desktop cover, comprising: a cover panel having a translating mechanism to operatively coupled the cover panel to a desktop surface such that the cover panel is supported above the desktop surface as it is moved laterally between the open position and the closed position.
 14. The desktop cover of claim 13, wherein the translating mechanism further comprises: a guide assembly configured to be interconnected between the desktop and the cover panel.
 15. The concealable desktop of claim 14, wherein the translating mechanism further comprises: a roller configured to support a forward end of the cover panel above a forward end of the desktop. 